Check-row planter.



F. MOENEH.

CHECK ROW PLATER.

APPucfmoH msn APR. I. 191s.

Paten Jan. 8, 1918.

3 SMEE-TS-SHEET l.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. MUENCH.

CHECK ROW PLNTER- ArPLlcATloN man APR. 1. me.

iII'IHHHHHHIIVIH Tmeff:

F. MOI-INCH.

CHECK ROW PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1916.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

j; lllilililfxl vrnnfr ons n.

Nuno STATES? r i rannsnroiliivionnomor ausnvlntu, rumors. l ,f

"j' onnoxsnow PLAnTEn. n 1,252,923. A, vSpeeicatiim of Letters Patent. Patefed Jan. 8, 1918. lm Application filed April 7, 1916, Serial No. 89,514l g I To all whom it may concern,- l Be it known that L. FREDEMCK MOENOH,

a citizen of the United States, and a-resident p of Rushville, county of Schuyler, andvState of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefuly Improvements in Check-Row vPlanters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic seed planters and more particularly tothe means for adjusting'and operating' the checkers of automatic corn planters,- although the principle of my invention is capable ofv adaptation to mechanism for planting divers grains and vegetables.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision in a planter whereby the checkers or feed valves may vbe actuated automatically by electrical energy and which is capable of adjustment so ythat the hills may be planted in.symmetrically alining rowls, or staggered rows, as desired.

Another object of'myinvention is the provision, in a planter', 'of suitable indicating devices that are adapted to mark the ground or soil adjacent each planting, so Vthatproper adjustment may be made to dispose the rows in alinement with eachother'and to start the plantings with relation to each other in the respective rows.-

" Further objects of my Ainvention are the provision of a planterfof'this character that is' easy tov manipulate and "is comparatively simple'in construction, so that it may be operated by unskilledlabor.

I prefer to accomplishfthe divers objects of my invention by the means and in the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to4 the accompanying drawings formingia part of' this specification, 'wherein-,- i ,Y i f A Figure 1 is a'vertical side elevation off'a seed planter constructed-in accordance with my invention.

iFigzQ is aitop or plan view thereof, showing the relative disposition of the parts.

Fig. 3'is a' fragmentary detail of the electrically operated portion Vof the mechanism.

Fig. L1 is a.,fragmentarydetaihin elevation, and having the parts separated for clearness, showing thev relative arrangement' ofA the Contact members for energizing the-electrical actuating means for the'seed hoppers.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical llay-out of thel electrical circuit. l v Referringfmore particularly to Figs.' 1

and 2 lof the drawings, it will be observed the planter preferably comprises the usuall carriage consisting of the longitudinal frame members, 10, 10,connected at their-forward ends by a substantially U-shaped cross-member, 1.1, and intermediate their ends pro-v vided with journal-bearing brackets, 12, 12, that afford bearings for the'axle, 13,'of the carriage.l

Suitable wheels, 141, 14, with concave tires ofthe usual type, aremounted upon the outer extended ends of the axle or shaft, 13,

sothat the latteris' adapted to rotate thereends whereof are pendantly secured to the U`shapedy frame member, 11, and the rear portions whereof are secured to a substantialy vertically disposed chute or discharge trough, 18,' through which the seed is discharged fro'm the hoppers,`16, into the furrow'ma'de by the plows, 17.

suitable mechanism is provided ywithin the bottom of the seed hoppers for feeding a predetermined quantity of seed tol the plow, and the same is released to the 'plow by meansl of a suitable slide valve, 19',I the rear end portion whereof extends Abeyond the vertical plane ofthe rear of the hopper,

16, and has theupper end of a crank arm,

20', operatively connected thereto..

The opposite end of said crank arm, 20, engage the bifurcated' upper end of a pivoted arm, 21, that has its'lower end extended into the chute, 18, and is adapted to re'- lease the seed from the lower end'of the chute intol the furrow. A

Intermediate its ends,"the crank arm, 20, isgrigidly mounted upon a square shaft, 23, that extends transversely and horizontally across the"carriage,"-a`t` the rear of the crosspiece, 15,"and`4 ismountedin suitable bearings, 24, projecting rearwardly from sald cross-piece. j Y I Y v l jThemechanism so far described vifs-substantiallysrnilag ,tor-ahordnai'y corn or l circuit With'the batteries.

seed planter, mechanism connected WlthwtheaXle of the carriage or by means ofa 'sultable checker tape or Wire fed through the machine Vas it n traverses the soil.

In the carrying out of my invention I prei' fer l:to do away? With this mechanical Vexpedient, for actuating thevalvesand in;

. hereinbcfore described -iircoiiiiection with the seed discharge and feeding valves.- A spring, '31,' secured to a;.cra1iky arm :28, mounted ongthe square shaft, `23, is pro-- videdto returnthe square shaft,y23, to its normal position, thereby closing the valves,

loses its attracting pQWer. v

In ordel1 that the magnets may .be enel"-` gized so asl-tc securethe desired deposition of the` seed, I have provided a suitable gear, 32,y rotatablyV mounted upon'a shaft, 33, which gearis adapted. to be vactuated Vby means of apinion, 34;, rigidly mounted upon the axle,

when the .circuit isjbroken, and the magnet the gear, 32, is providedwvith'lan'embossment, 3 5, 'the peripheryiof Whichgis:interv` rupted' With' suitable insulating .-plates, 3;?, so as to leave betiveenthe insulating plates, contact areas,` 36. I This embossment,35, is adapted to be inclosed Within a shell, 38,*tha't surrounds the samejandis provided-With an insulated contact point, 39,-Which is: adapted to; contact the periphery o f the embossment in the path Vof -theinsulating plates, 37. 'Y

This shell is journaledfupon the. shaft, 33,

i andisadapted tobe rotated thereon for the purpose ofadjustment `by mcansfof, a control- Wheel,'.-40, journaledupon ,the upper end', of a standard,-41,- and1connectedby Y means ofa sprocket,42,fand chain, 43, with a large sprocket, 44C, upon the 'outer face of the shell, f38... .Y

The rotation of the aXle, l3,Will revolve the gear.n 32,..andf ca use.the contacts, 36,.to

= come into successive engagement with the' terminal, 39, and thusisuecessively energize the m agnet=, 27 causing the attraction ofthe armature y30, and the l. consequent4 Irotary reciprocablemotion frthe .rockshafn 23, to operate the valves.V `llVhen each. row is started, the operator. adusts the control-Wheel, 41muntil the contact and I is Vusually operatedlby' to ,the preceding rows.

j In 'order to identify the point of plant- Ving, I have provided a suitable box, 45that 13,. of the v planter.;..One faceof er terminal,z39, engagesits respective contact, 36, tovrelease the valve in such order that'the plantingV will be in proper relation contains a quantity of suitable marking mal terial, 'suchey as chalk or lime, in powdered form, and Which is adapted to be released by a slide valve, 46,- that vis actuated-by Va crank. arm, 47, carried bythe square rockshaft, 23, hereinbefore mentioned,fsofthat each time the seed valves are operated,1the

material :upon the soil'. f

"'FromA the above itw will be" obvious that the planting or checking operations are. ac -A inarking valve will simultaneously operate 'and deposita small quantity offmarkmg complishedin .a successful manner and the n rows may be planted lin* alinement n'fitheach other, and little or no :trouble Will bechad in ascertaining `the location of each yplant@ ing when4 the successive row is being traversed' byfthe apparatus.v

In ordei that Athe mechanism-may..be' thrown out of operation, I prov-idea su1tl able knife switch, 4:8, upon thestanda`rd,f 41, and interposed in the circuit leading vfrom theabatteries to the contactmembers;` 1,.-5:

hile I have illu'strated =an l described certain specific :means for carrying out my invention, it", of course, Will-bezobviousto 'others' skilled Vin the lart to Which-the-'same pertains, that .variousmodications orwrei;

iinementsthereof are possible Withoutfniaf terially departing from the1 spiritzoflfmy invention. For example, fthe l contactV point or terminal, 39, may be disposed -uponwthe embossment,.f35,for the rock-shaft, 23 ,=may be actuated by meanszof -a' solenoid mechanism. I therefore desireit toV be Yunderstood that. ally such yobvious' changes are-{contemplated as included-Withinr'the scope of my invention as'- expressed in Athe appended p .j' 12,110

clalms.

What I claim is:; v g s l. In a seed planter having seed hoppers and means for discharging seed therefrom, means for Ycontrolling Athe depositfof; the-.diss charged seed including an armaturefand ah electro-magnet, a commutator and a contact brushy in circuit, .,s'ai'd commutator'being4 in mechanical train With the Wheels of Lsaid planter', and said Contact .brush adapte'dfto rotate concentrically vWith' said: commntator to co-.act therewith and close said circuit;

2. I n aseed planterihaving. seed hoppers and @means for discharging see'd'therefrom,

devices for indicating the disposition of leach planting, andcommon means for controlling the deposit (of. discharged seed 'and said .indicatingdevices including an armature, and an electro-magnet, a commutator and a contact brush in circuit, said commutatorbeing in mechanicaljtrainjvvith the Wheels of said planter, said contact brush adapted to rotate concentrically with said commutator to coact therewith and close said circuit.

3. In a seed planter having seed hoppers and means for discharging seed therefrom, means for controlling the deposit of the discharged seed including an armature, and an electro-magnet, a commutator and a contact brush in circuit, said commutator being in mechanical train with the Wheels of said planter, said Contact brush adapted to rotate concentrically and independently of said commutator to co-act therewith and close said circuit, and means for indicating the deposition of each planting, said lastmentioned means comprising a hopper containing` a finely divided marking medium, a valve controlling the discharge of said marking medium, and means for operating said valve in timed relation with said seed delivery and actuated by said electrical elements.

4. In a seed planter having seed hoppers and means for discharging seed therefrom, electro-magnetic means for controlling deposit oi the discharged seed including electro-responsive reciprocal means, a rotatable commutator for controlling same, and an adjustable contact for said commutator disposed to be moved concentrically therewith and independently thereof.

5. In combination with a seed planter provided With supporting Wheels, a seed receptacle, and means for discharging seed therefrom, of means for controlling the deposit of the discharged seed including an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said discharging means, a circuit in Which said device is interposed, and devices for intermittently closing said circuit, said devices including a rotatable commutator actuated by the rotation of said supporting Wheels, and a contact brush movable concentrically thereto and adjustable independently thereof.

6. In combination with a seed planter provided With supporting Wheels, a seed receptacle, and means for discharging seed therefrom, means for controlling the deposit of the discharged seed including an electromagnet adapted to actuate said discharging means, a circuit in Which said magnet is interposed, and a disk provided with a plurality of contacts actuated by the rotation of the supporting Wheels, and a brush engaging said contacts adapted to intermittently close said circuit, said brush capable of adjustment independently oit' said disk whereby the operation of the seed discharging means is regulated.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 5th day of April,

FREDERICK MOENCH. IVitnesses:

GARCIA STREITBERGER, BENJ. T. RooDHAUsE.

Copies of this patent-may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

